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The Sharjah or Arabian coelacanth fish fossil († Coelacanthus sharjah Khalaf, 2013) is a new Coelacanthus fossil species from Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum, Sharjah, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates which was discovered and described by the Palestinian-German Zoologist Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa in September 2013. Introduction: During a visit to Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates in September 2013, Prof. Dr. Khalaf-von Jaffa examined and took measurements of a Coelacanth Fish Fossil. After examining the Coelacanthus fish at Sharjah Natural History Museum, Prof. Dr. Khalaf-von Jaffa began comparing between the different Coelacanthus fossil species. There are ten Coelacanthus recognized species: † Coelacanthus banffensis Lambe, 1916; † Coelacanthus evolutus Beltan, 1980; † Coelacanthus gracilis Agassiz, 1844; † Coelacanthus granulatus Agassiz, 1836; † Coelacanthus harlemensis Winkler, 1871; † Coelacanthus lunzensis Reis, 1900; † Coelacanthus madagascariensis Woodward, 1910; † Coelacanthus minor Agassiz, 1844; † Coelacanthus welleri Eastman, 1908; † Coelacanthus whitea Lehman, 1952. The new fossil species † Coelacanthus sharjah Khalaf, 2013 is distinguished from the other ten Coelacanthus species by its slightly different skeletal, skull and fin features. It is morphologically distinct from the other ten species. Description: Coelacanthus ("Hollow Spine") is a genus of extinct coelacanths that first appeared during the Late Permian period, 251 million years ago. In fact, this was the first genus of coelacanths ever described by Louis Agassiz in 1836, as the order Coelacanthiformes is named after it. They bear a superficial similarity to the living Latimeria, though they were smaller, and had more elongated heads. Individuals grew up to 3 feet in length, and had small lobed fins, suggesting that Coelacanthus were open-water predators (Wikipedia). Coelacanthus was a long-lived genus with a worldwide distribution. They survived the Permian–Triassic extinction event, and eventually died out during the end of the Jurassic, 145.5 million years ago. Measurements of the Sharjah Coelacanth Fossil: Total length: 35.00 cm; Head from mouth tip to gill cover: 8.00 cm; Tail length: 9.00 cm; Head width at the gill cover: 9.00 cm; Body width in the middle (dorsal-ventral): 9 cm, tail base width: 6.5 cm; Anterior dorsal fin: 5.50 cm; Posterior dorsal fin: 4.50 cm; Pectoral fin: 6.50 cm; Pelvic fin: 5.50 cm; Anal fin: 5.00 cm; Tail rays: 6.00 cm. Etymology / Derivation of the Scientific Name: Coelacanthus in New Latin literally: hollow spine; “Coel” indicating a cavity within a body or a hollow organ or part, from Greek “koilos” hollow + Greek “akanthos” spined, adj. derivative of ákantha spine, referring to the hollow caudal fin rays of the first fossil specimen described and named by Louis Agassiz in 1836. The Arabic species name “sharjah” refers to Sharjah, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates where the fossil specimen is deposited at the Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum. Article Reference: Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2013). † Coelacanthus sharjah Khalaf, 2013 : A New Coelacanth Fish Fossil Species from Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum, Sharjah, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 - 6288. Number 106, October 2013, Thu Al Hijja 1434 AH. pp. 18–38. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://quastenflosser.webs.com/coelacanthussharjah.htm